City, country, river: Berlin combines all three points. The German capital is also a federal state and its landscape is dominated by the Spree River and its forests. In the center of Berlin, Germany was once divided and found its way back together peacefully with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Around 3.6 million inhabitants call it home; East and West have formed a unique cultural conglomerate. Berlin is considered a trendsetter in fashion, music and art and has even made a name for itself in the international film scene. The Brandenburg Gate is the architectural trademark of this vibrant metropolis. Art lovers will find what they are looking for in numerous museums; night owls can wander through Berlin’s clubs, pubs and discos until the wee hours of the morning. Families are recommended to visit the zoo and the natural history museum.
Attractions and sights
Reichstag
An equally historic building is the Reichstag. It served as the Reichstag for the German Empire until 1933 and then for the Weimar Republic. Since the extensive renovation and redesign in the years 1991 to 1999, it is the seat of the German parliament. A striking and imposing glass dome rises above the ...
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate, built between 1788 and 1793 on the orders of the Prussian King Frederick William II, according to designs by Carl Gotthard Langhans, is undisputedly the city’s landmark. Above all, the golden quadriga created by Johann Gottfried Schadow above the historic Triumph Gate is known throughout the world. In ...
Television Tower in Berlin
As a landmark visible from afar, the TV tower characterizes the skyline of the united Berlin. At 368 metres, it is the tallest building in the city. Between the years 1965 and 1969, the TV Tower was built on the territory of the former GDR at Alexanderplatz, the old center of East Berlin. ...
Gendarmenmarkt
A visit to the Gendarmenmarkt is an excursion into the history of Berlin. On one of the most beautiful squares in Berlin, dating from the 17th century, there are three monumental architectural highlights that define the image of the square. The German Cathedral and the French Cathedral, both dating from ...
Berlin Cathedral
A city trip includes a visit to the magnificent Berlin Cathedral. The church building dates from the end of the 19th century and is located on Museum Island. The cathedral is the largest Protestant church in Germany in terms of area. A 98 meter high huge turquoise dome crowns the cathedral. ...
Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace, the former summer residence of the Hohenzollern dynasty, stands in Berlin’s Charlottenburg district in the middle of a picturesque park landscape. It was built between 1695 and 1699 by order of Sophie-Charlotte, the wife of the then Elector Friedrich III. Originally it was called Schloss Lützenburg. After the ...
Museum Island
In the northern part of the Spree Island lies the Museum Island. Historically, it is located in the center of Berlin and is one of the most important museum complexes in Berlin and Europe. The Prussian kings commissioned the construction of the various museums between 1830 and 1930. The museum ensemble was ...
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center Many places in Berlin commemorate the division of Germany. But none shows it as closely and lifelike as the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse. The central place of remembrance is 1.4 kilometers long and runs along the former border strip. On display is a ...
Potsdamer square
Historic square and traffic junction Before the Second World War, Potsdamer Platz was the commercial centre of Berlin and one of the busiest squares in Europe. After the end of the war and until reunification, it was a no-man’s land. This changed in 1990 with the redevelopment of the wasteland. ...